Best and Worst places to live in Norfolk???

boo1

Hi all, I follow these threads with interest and would like to pick your brains if that's ok? I'm looking to move from Surrey to Norfolk in the next few months (hopefully - OH is just freshening the house up before we put it on the market :j). House prices here are sooo expensive and it's getting a bit footballers wives (no offence meant to any footballers wives reading this) and as my parents live in Suffolk it would be nice to live closer - though not too close - and get more for our money. We are currently in a 2 bed semi and with what we can sell this for we should come out with about £180,000 equity going by what other properties in our street have recently sold for, which, after much research on Rightmove and Findaproperty, should get us a 3 bed semi or even detached with a reasonable garden and off street parking is a must (the rows we have in this house because we can't park outside or nearby - I can't tell you, my OH is driving me bonkers!). We'd like to live in a village with a decent school nearby for our nearly 7 year old and preferably a village shop or something, although we both drive so this isn't essential. Or even a small town. In fact anywhere that isn't here!!!

I was thinking of the Diss/South Norfolk area (40 mins from parents which is probably still too close according to him indoors ) and we will go up and have a good look around at some point in the near future. I particularly liked Dickleburgh as it seemed villagey and I was just wondering if any of you have any places you recommend or would avoid like the plague. I was brought up in Suffolk a LONG time ago (haven't lived there for 30 years) and love the countryside and just think it will be a nicer way of life for both of us and our son. I'm thinking we should rent for 6 months/a year to make sure of the area unless we find a fantastic house that is screaming buy me!!! Any suggestions will be greatly received and looked at (I spend hours on Streetview deciding if I like the look of the area much to my husbands disgust :rotfl:). Thanks

vickimanchester

Hi, I came from Norfolk originally before I moved to Manchester for university 10 years ago. We lived in Blofield which is a small village about half an hour from Norwich and there are lots of other nice villages in that area: Brundall, Hemblington, Lingwood, Little Plumstead etc. I went to school in Thorpe St Andrew which is closer to the city and has some really nice areas around the river but some other not so nice areas too. I must add that I found it a wee bit boring as a teenager living in a tiny village but obviously it depends what you are after! I'm not too familiar with the Diss area but if you have any other areas in mind try me. Hope this helps.

mufi

I live in the same general area as vickimanchester comes from (used to live in Brundall, which is a lovely spot), and it's my favourite part of Norfolk as well. Having said that, you'll get more for your money in the Diss area for some reason, despite it being nearer to London. Her suggestion of Thorpe St Andrew needs a little care - it's being massively developed, although the Dussindale development there will offer value for money.

The only areas I'd completely avoid would be Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Thetford and some of the north west border area (around Wisbech).

Good luck - we moved here from London 37 years ago and have never regretted it.

hethmar

Well, you dont really want the best do you You want the best at the price you can afford (2 bed terraced with on road parking cost £180k, up to £210k if a period property in this area). New estates are a different matter, but I got the impression you want traditional rather than modern? You can get some modern reasonably priced properties in villages that arent estates though.

The decent villages close to Norwich will all be very expensive. Therefore Id also look at Diss villages, East Harling, Harleston, possibly Kenninghall. Great Ellingham isnt too bad and has some properties that may fit the bill for you. Hingham is a nice village really (added bonus of a few celebs living there). Most of these places will require bussing to school at the age of 12 though. Oh Mulbarton isnt that far from Norwich but seems to have a lot of new houses and reasonable prices. Will your husband be commuting for work? In which case proximity of good roads/trains will be important.

Ditto places to avoid as per mufi above.:eek:

boo1

Many thanks to all of you, I will have a closer look at the villages you have mentioned, and you're right I don't want much (she says rolling her eyes!).

I have to say I don't mind old or new (so long as the new ones have a bit of character which they seem to now sometimes), husband I think would prefer new as the house we live in now was built in 1890 (ish) and has lathe and plaster walls which he says are a nightmare when decorating etc (not that I would know as I only supply the tea!!!). I keep telling him its the character of these old places and no one would expect perfect walls. However, saying that the last three or four houses that have sold in my road have all been ripped out, replastered, walls knocked down etc so maybe the person that buys this will do the same. Husband has said why are we decorating as this, according to him, is exactly what will happen. I just think if a house looks fresh when people look around it might tempt them into making an offer. We are near an excellent school (less than 10 minute walk) and a 5 minute walk from the High Street) so fingers crossed it won't hang around for ages and we can be off living the good life :j. I can see myself growing veg etc and riding around on a big wheeled bike with a basket on the front. I don't know who I think I am, obviosly read to many books.

hethmar

Here is a nice house in Hingham, I know this area as a friend lives there. Its not a big estate, just about 35 houses I think and all individual styles to fit in with the village which is a conservation area. Small gardens but next to the sports field and hall and local shops/pubs even a dentist

http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=6737136

Or this older, end of terraced in Kenninghall.

http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=7104692

You may like Old and New Buckenham too - check them out.

I think you need to look for an old property if you want to grow veg though. Most new houses dont have gardens that lend themselves to that.

jonnyd281

I live about 10 miles north of Great Yarmouth in one of the villages and it is very nice, (and my house is up for sale ).

It's about 20 minutes to Norwich, 15-12 to Great Yarmouth and 30 minutes to Lowestoft. Diss is about an hour away depending upon which way you want to go.

des_cartes

jonnyd281 wrote: »

I live about 10 miles north of Great Yarmouth in one of the villages and it is very nice, (and my house is up for sail ).

It's about 20 minutes to Norwich, 15-12 to Great Yarmouth and 30 minutes to Lowestoft. Diss is about an hour away depending upon which way you want to go.

'and my house is up for sail'

Is it a houseboat then?

jonnyd281

des_cartes wrote: »

'and my house is up for sail'

Is it a houseboat then?

Been a looooong day;)

hethmar

Some of the villages north of Norwich are very beautiful but there is the problem of getting anywhere south because of the roads. I get the feeling the OP is looking south of Norfolk probably due to work travel?

des_cartes

hethmar wrote: »

Some of the villages north of Norwich are very beautiful but there is the problem of getting anywhere south because of the roads. I get the feeling the OP is looking south of Norfolk probably due to work travel?

I think if I were to move to Norfolk it would be because I wanted to get away from anywhere South.:D